Prince William Times 01/27/2022

Page 1

SPORTS: The postseason is underway for county gymnastics teams. PAGES 11, 14

Janurary 27, 2022 | Vol. 21, No. 4 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $1.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

School board joins lawsuit against mask order

First Day Hike on the Occoquan Greenway: Jason Williams, a volunteer, leads Supervisor Kenny Boddye, in the blue jacket, and other participants in a Jan. 8 hike along a new segment of the Occoquan Greenway, a 12-mile trail that will eventually connect the Prince William County government complex to the Town of Occoquan.

By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

In 2014, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a 20-year lease with the Lake Ridge Parks and Recreation Association, the Lake Ridge homeowners’ association, that allows the county to use about four miles of LRPRA common property for the Greenway in exchange for $1 a year. At that time, the county pledged to fund the design and improvements of the trail, including erosion management, a bridge over Hooes Run, lighting, signs and trash cans.

The Prince William County School Board has joined six other school divisions across Virginia in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order that gives parents the choice of sending their children to school withSchool Board out masks. Chairman An Arlington County Circuit Court judge will Dr. Babur Lateef hear arguments on the lawsuit in an initial hearing set for Wednesday, Feb. 2. In a joint statement issued Monday, Jan. 24, the school boards of all seven school divisions -- Prince William County, Alexandria City, Arlington County, City of Superintendent Richmond, Fairfax Coun- LaTanya McDade ty, Falls Church City and Hampton City – said they are taking legal action in an effort to “defend the right of local school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and wellbeing of all students and staff.” The statement said the lawsuit “is not politically motivated” but centers on “fundamental questions” about the powers of local school boards as set out by the Virginia Constitution and the state General Assembly. The lawsuit also seeks to settle whether the governor can reverse – without action by state lawmakers – an existing state law, Senate Bill 1303, which states that schools must offer in-person instruction to all students five days a week while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines “to the maximum extent practicable.”

See GREENWAY, page 4

See MASKS, page 2

PHOTOS BY CHER MUZYK

Blazing a new trail

County, volunteers are forging ahead on the ‘Occoquan Greenway’ By Cher Muzyk

Contributing Writer

In about two years’ time, if all goes according to plan, Woodbridge residents will have a new, scenic trail connecting the historic Town of Occoquan to the Lake Ridge Marina and points further west. Plans have been in the works for more than 10 years on the “Occoquan Greenway.” The nearly 12-mile, multi-use trail is planned to link the Prince William County’s government complex on Prince William Parkway to the Town of Occoquan. The trail consists of eight connecting segments with lots scenic views to enjoy along the way. The greenway is a mix of paved surfaces, such as sidewalks that meander through existing Lake Ridge neighborhoods, and natural-surface footpaths of varied terrain that course through forested areas and along the banks of Hooes Run and the Occoquan River.

Hikers brave the cold to preview a new section of the Occoquan Greenway – segment 6 – during the first organized hike along the route. The trail runs along the shore of Hooes Run.

Local health district tops 100,000 COVID cases, page 2

Dominion reveals coal ash plan, page 3

88 DULLES, VA

It’s all about people . . . and always will be. www.vnb.com


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